Real Madrid World Cup Spotlight: Mbappe on target as France beat Paraguay, Brahim shines for Morocco | OneFootball

Real Madrid players continued to have a great World Cup as the Round-of-16 games kicked off in some style.

The first game of the night saw Morocco take on Canada, and the co-hosts came out of the blocks like a team on a mission.

Jesse Marsch’s side looked intense and purposeful against the AFCON champions and produced the much better performance on the night.

However, Morocco showed what top teams do on a regular basis: resilience. They survived the moments against them and, when it was their turn, they were clinical.

The game ended 3-0 in favour of the AFCON champions, with Real Madrid star Brahim Diaz getting assists for the second and third goals.

Brahim ended with two assists for Morocco. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

France took on Paraguay next in a game that was much more than just football. The South American team made life difficult for Les Bleus.

France had the ball, had the moments and had the attacks throughout the game, but found it close to impossible to break Paraguay’s block.

Their only goal in the game came from the spot after Diego Gomez clumsily tripped Desire Doue, and Kylian Mbappe made no mistake from the spot as France beat the South American side 1-0.

Here is how Mbappe and Brahim Diaz fared from Los Blancos’ perspective last night.

Mbappe vs Paraguay

Mbappe scored the only goal as France beat Paraguay 1-0, setting up a date with Morocco in the quarter-finals of the competition.

The Real Madrid megastar’s night was not about freedom or flowing football. Paraguay made the match physical, slow and uncomfortable, defending deep and dragging France into a fight rather than allowing them to play in rhythm.

Decisive yet again. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)

That made his decisive moment even more important. France had gone through the first half without a shot on target, but when Desire Doue won a penalty after the break, Mbappe stayed calm and converted in the 70th minute.

This is the kind of performance that matters in knockout football. Mbappe did not dominate the match in a stylish way, but he still decided it.

This was Mbappe’s seventh goal of the tournament and his 19th World Cup goal overall. He continues to define it with his performances.

Brahim Diaz vs Canada

Brahim’s performance was more creative and arguably more complete. Morocco beat Canada 3-0, with Azzedine Ounahi scoring twice and Soufiane Rahimi adding the third in stoppage time.

His first assist came in the 82nd minute, when he slipped a precise pass into Ounahi for Morocco’s second goal. Then, in stoppage time, he was involved again as Rahimi finished off the tie.

This was a very encouraging Brahim display. He was not just tidy between the lines. He was decisive.

In a match where Canada had more territory, more corners and more touches in the box, Brahim gave Morocco the final-third clarity that turned control into punishment.

That is exactly the quality Real Madrid value in him. Brahim can drift in and out of games, but when he receives between defenders, his balance and timing make him dangerous.

Overall, this was an excellent Real Madrid day. Mbappe solved a brutal match with one ruthless penalty, while Brahim helped Morocco turn a tight knockout tie into a statement win.

The best part is what comes next: France against Morocco, Mbappe against Brahim, and another Real Madrid storyline guaranteed in the quarter-finals.